Zamboanga City, Philippines – November 10, 2024
In a decisive blow against illegal drug trafficking, a joint anti-drug operation in Zamboanga City led to the arrest of two High-Value Individuals (HVIs) and the confiscation of illegal drugs worth an estimated ₱5.78 million.
The operation, which took place at 7:33 PM at Vicente Chiong, Martha Drive, Barangay Sta. Barbara, was a coordinated effort by the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9) through its Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU 9), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Zamboanga City Office (PDEA-ZC), Naval Intelligence Security Group-Western Mindanao (NISG-WM), and the City Intelligence Unit of the Zamboanga City Police Office (CIU-ZCPO).
The two suspects—a 63-year-old male and a 48-year-old male—were apprehended in a buy-bust operation. Both men are designated High-Value Targets (HVTs) in the region’s intensified anti-drug efforts. Authorities recovered seventeen heat-sealed transparent plastic packs containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu, with an estimated street value of ₱5,780,000.
The seized illegal drugs have been transferred to the Regional Forensic Unit 9 for further examination and processing.
PRO9 Regional Director, PBGEN MASAUDING, praised the inter-agency coordination and the swift action that led to the operation’s success. “This successful operation underscores our commitment to eliminating illegal drugs and apprehending individuals who perpetuate the drug trade in our region. The collaboration among our law enforcement partners is essential in achieving these significant results,” he stated.
The arrest of the two suspects and the large drug seizure marks a substantial victory in the region’s ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.
